Clean release split carton and method

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a long medical device is sealed within a clean release split carton. The clean release split carton includes a first carton tube coupled to a second carton tube by a closure label. To open the clean release split carton, a tear string is pulled to tear the closure label thus separating the first carton tube from the second carton tube. The individual carton tubes are then removed from the medical device. The clean release split carton avoids the generation of particulates while opening the carton and make removing the medical device easier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device assembly comprising:
 a clean release split carton comprising:
 a first carton tube; 
 a second carton tube separated from the first carton tube by a release line; 
 a rip tape assembly over the release line holding the first carton tube and the second carton tube together. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical device assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a carton form comprising the first carton tube and the second carton tube. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carton form further comprises a pull tab. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pull tab is coupled to the first carton tube and the second carton tube by a breakaway. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device assembly of  claim 4  wherein the breakaway is a perforated cut configured to break upon application of force to separate the pull tab from the first carton tube and the second carton tube. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device assembly of  claim 5  further comprising printed graphics that identify the pull tab and the direction of pull. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device assembly of  claim 3  where the rip tape assembly is located over the pull tab. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rip tape assembly comprises a closure label adhered to the first carton tube and the second carton tube. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device assembly of  claim 8  where the rip tape assembly further comprises a tear string over the release line. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device assembly of  claim 1  further comprising one or more alignment features for alignment of the first carton tube to the second carton tube. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device assembly of  claim 10  wherein the release line comprises the one or more alignment features. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device assembly of  claim 1  wherein the clean release split carton comprises a carton form having the rip tape assembly inside. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a medical device contained within the clean release split carton. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device assembly of  claim 13  further comprising an inner container within the clean release split carton, the medical device being within the inner container. 
     
     
         15 . A medical device assembly comprising:
 a carton form comprising:
 a first longitudinal edge; 
 a second longitudinal edge; 
 a pull tab at the first longitudinal edge; and 
 a release line extending from the pull tab to the second longitudinal edge; and 
   a rip tape assembly extending from the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge over the pull tab and the release line.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device assembly of  claim 15  wherein the rip tape assembly comprises:
 a closure label; and 
 a tear string configured to tear the closure label. 
 
     
     
         17 . The medical device assembly of  claim 15  wherein the carton form further comprises:
 a first carton tube; 
 a second carton tube separated from the first carton tube by the release line; 
 a breakaway coupling the pull tab to the first carton tube and the second carton tube. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 forming a clean release split carton comprising coupling a first carton tube to a second carton tube with a rip tape assembly;   sealing a medical device within the clean release split carton; and   opening the clean release split carton to remove the medical device comprising tearing the rip tape assembly to separate the first carton tube from the second carton tube.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the tearing comprises separating a pull tab from the first carton tube and the second carton tube, the rip tape assembly being coupled to the pull tab. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the rip tape assembly comprises a tear string and a closure label coupled to the pull tab, the method further comprising pulling the pull tab to cause the tear string to tear the closure label.